Got a big chuckle out of them describing server-side rendering as this new-fangled unproven technical risk of a technology :) I get the context, but it was still funny. Ah, back to editing index.php I guess.
The fact that the same code can render the initial static page AND the dynamic client interactive UI is the point here.
Back in the days the apps were unresponsive, clumsy and user unfriendly.
You really can't compare web apps with old websites or even forum software like phpbb.
EDIT: The down vote of the PHP developer which still wants to write phpBB forum websites :)
Good luck with that. I'm waiting for the article that complains about frontend development ;)
It’s certainly nothing new, but the “buzz factor” impresses people who don’t know what it’s for and they implement it everywhere thinking it’s an improvement. The trend/gimmick culture in frontend is a real thing.